Meet Ridge

Ridge Hannemann Alkonis was born in Torrance, California. The first born, he carries his mother’s maiden name (Ridge) and his grandmother’s maiden name (Hannemann) proudly and responsibly. He was raised in Claremont, California with his four younger siblings. Growing up in the "City of Trees & PhD's" Ridge developed a love of learning, being outside, and food, all stemming from his parents Derek and Suzi. Summers consisted of bike rides, beach trips, and food cooked outside, while winters were spent cozied up in the family cabin exploring some of the states greatest treasures in Yosemite National Park.

During high school Ridge proved to be a friend to all. Being active in his church youth group, a member of the advanced school choir, and a varsity baseball player, he learned to connect with people from different walks of life, varying interests, and diverse backgrounds. Ridge knew, even then, that we all have things in common.

In 2006, Ridge entered the United States Naval Academy where he played for the baseball team. Making the personal and difficult choice to defer, he left the Academy in 2008 to serve a two-year church mission in Nagoya, Japan where he learned to speak the language and love the people and their country. In 2010, Ridge returned to the Naval Academy to complete his bachelor's degree and make a commitment to the US Navy. During the summer of 2011 he served as an intern in the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. and led a group of Midshipmen on a USNA cultural excursion to Japan. June 2012 Ridge graduated from the United States Naval Academy and days later was married to his sweetheart, Brittany Bowcutt. Soon after, the newlyweds moved to Yokosuka, Japan where Ridge served back to back tours aboard the USS Fitzgerald as an Anti-submarine Warfare Officer. During their first year in Japan Ridge and Brittany welcomed their oldest daughter and two years later another baby girl.

In 2016, Ridge and his family moved to Monterrey, California where he was admitted to the Naval Postgraduate School to pursue a Master's of Science in Engineering Acoustics. After completing his master's and adding a baby boy to the family in 2018, Ridge moved with his family to San Diego, California spending two years as a Warfare Tactics Instructor and receiving The Arleigh Burke Award for excellence.

Early 2020 took the family from west to east when they moved to Newport, Rhode Island where Ridge completed Department Head Training ahead of even bigger move. In December 2020 Ridge and his family, now bigger and better, returned to Yokosuka, Japan to begin service aboard the USS Benfold where Ridge is Weapons Officer and Brittany will act as Ombudsman.